Modern India Syllabus

British Expansion and Administration

1. Advent of Europeans: The Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French in India, including the Carnatic Wars and the reasons for British success.
2. British Conquest: Key battles like Plassey and Buxar, Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha, and Anglo-Sikh Wars.
3. Administrative Policies: Development of civil services, judiciary, police, and army during British rule.
   • Constitutional Development (Acts):
     • Regulating Act (1773) to Charter Act (1853):  Important Acts like the Regulating Act of 1773, Pitt’s India Act of 1784, various Charter Acts (Excluding The Act of Good Governance 1857)
     • Key shift from Company trade to Crown administration.
   • Land Revenue Systems:
     • Permanent Settlement (Zamindari): Bengal, Bihar (Cornwallis).
     • Ryotwari System: Madras, Bombay (Munro & Read).
     • Mahalwari System: North-West Provinces (Mackenzie).
   • Economic Impact:
     • Economic Transformation: De-industrialization, commercialization of agriculture, drain of wealth theory, and the rise of modern industry.
     • Famines and Poverty: Impact of British policies on the Indian economy and the resulting poverty and famines. 
   • Administrative Pillars: Evolution of Civil Services (Cornwallis), Police, and Judiciary. 
4. Early Resistance & The Revolt of 1857
   • Civil & Tribal Uprisings (Pre-1857):
     • Sanyasi Revolt, Paika Rebellion.
     • Tribal Revolts: Kol, Santhal (1855), Bhil Uprisings.
   • The Revolt of 1857:
     • Causes: Military (Greased Cartridges), Economic, Political (Doctrine of Lapse).
     • Centers & Leaders: Delhi (Bahadur Shah), Kanpur (Nana Saheb), Lucknow (Begum Hazrat Mahal), Jhansi (Rani Laxmibai), Bihar (Kunwar Singh).
     • Failure: Lack of central leadership and pan-India support.
     • Aftermath: Government of India Act 1858 (Crown Rule), Queen’s Proclamation.

Socio-Religious Reform Movements and Uprisings

1. Socio-Cultural Change: The introduction of Western education, the rise of the press and public opinion, and Christian missionary activities.
2. Hindu Reform:
   • Brahmo Samaj: Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Sati, Idol worship).
   • Arya Samaj: Dayanand Saraswati (Go back to Vedas).
   • Ramakrishna Mission: Swami Vivekananda.
   • Prarthana Samaj & Young Bengal Movement.
3. Muslim Reform: Aligarh Movement (Sir Syed Ahmed Khan), Wahabi Movement.
4. Caste & Social Movements: Jyotiba Phule (Satyashodhak Samaj), Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Widow Remarriage). 

The Freedom Struggle (Indian National Movement)

1. Rise of Indian Nationalism (1885–1905)
   • Pre-Congress Associations: Indian Association, Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
   • Foundation of Indian National Congress (1885): A.O. Hume, W.C. Bonnerjee.
   • The Moderate Phase (1885–1905):
     • Leaders: Dadabhai Naoroji, G.K. Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta.
     • Methods: 3Ps (Petition, Prayer, Protest); Economic critique of colonialism. 
2. Era of Militant Nationalism & Swadeshi (1905–1918)
   • Partition of Bengal (1905): Curzon’s policy of “Divide and Rule”.
   • Swadeshi Movement (1905–1908): Boycott of foreign goods, rise of indigenous industries.
   • Surat Split (1907): Split between Moderates and Extremists (Lal-Bal-Pal).
   • Revolutionary Activities (Phase I):
     • Bengal (Anushilan Samiti, Jugantar), Maharashtra (Abhinav Bharat).
     • Ghadar Party (1913): San Francisco, Komagata Maru Incident.
   • Home Rule League Movement (1916): Tilak and Annie Besant.
   • Lucknow Pact (1916): Congress-League unity and Moderate-Extremist reunion.
3. The Gandhian Era Begins (1917–1929)
   • Early Experiments: Champaran (Indigo), Ahmedabad (Mill strike), Kheda (Peasants).
   • Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh (1919): Massacres leading to mass unrest.
   • Government of India Act 1919: Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Dyarchy in provinces).
   • Non-Cooperation & Khilafat Movement (1920–22): First mass movement; suspended after Chauri Chaura incident.
   • Emergence of New Forces (1920s):
     • Swarajists (Pro-changers): C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru.
     • Revolutionary Phase II: HRA/HSRA (Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad), Kakori Robbery, Chittagong Armoury Raid (Surya Sen).
   • Simon Commission (1927): Boycott due to all-white members; death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
   • Nehru Report (1928): First Indian attempt at drafting a constitution. 
4. Towards Independence (1930–1947)
   • Civil Disobedience Movement (1930):
     • Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha).
     • Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) & Karachi Session (Fundamental Rights).
   • Round Table Conferences (1930–32): Failure to reach consensus.
   • Communal Award & Poona Pact (1932): Gandhi vs. Ambedkar on separate electorates.
   • Government of India Act 1935: Provincial Autonomy; basis for the modern constitution.
   • 1937 Elections: Congress ministries formed in provinces.
   • World War II & The Final Push:
     • August Offer (1940) & Individual Satyagraha (1940).
     • Cripps Mission (1942): Failed offer of Dominion Status.
     • Quit India Movement (1942): “Do or Die” call; leaderless revolt.
     • Indian National Army (INA): Subhash Chandra Bose, Azad Hind Fauj, Red Fort Trials.
   • Transfer of Power:
     • Cabinet Mission (1946): Plan for Union of India; rejected eventually by League.
     • Direct Action Day (1946): Communal riots.
     • Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947): Plan for Partition.
     • Indian Independence Act, 1947: Birth of India and Pakistan.